Yahoo Sports has our O-line (positon group) as the "most muddled" post-draft

[MHS831]

Here is how I see it--maybe I am reaching for understanding:

 

Bell, Chandler, Williams, and Bond are the Tackles.  I predict Chandler will be the LT and Bell/Williams will fight for the RT job.

We signed a pass-catching TE AND a blocking TE during the offseason.

We drafted a large WR and signed some bigger, more sure handed complimentary WRs in free agency.

We drafted a bull dozer of a G and re-signed a G in free agency.  (Silatolu, Turner, Kugbila,Scott will fight for 2 G spots)

We drafted a RB who can pick up blitzes and pass block

 

These signs point to a ground attack with a concentration in the passing game on short to intermediate passes.  Large targets, 2 TEs, etc.  Less time for Cam to sit in the pocket and wait for deep digs and gos---Guard becomes more important than T to a degree.  RBs and TEs helping on the edge. 

[AKPantherFan]

I think we will bring in some talent once the cuts start taking place this summer. DG WAS good at finding great value last year.

[yasuhara2241]

Ok let me preface this by saying Bell drives me crazy sometimes, BUT...

 

He allowed 9 sacks last year but to be fair 4.5 of those 9 sacks was in Buffalo against Mario W. So outside of that game was he really as awful as we want to think he is?

 

If we got a 6'5 guy 330lb tackle in the draft ppl would be going crazy thinking we got a steal and truth be told we did. We have a 4 yr starter who was a UDFA! Is he perfect? No. But is he the horrible player many think he is? No.

 

No the overall line is a worry, but Rome wasn't build in a day and neither was this team. When you have to clean up messes done by prior regimes it takes time. We are getting the salary in place, we are now starting to try to put playmakers around Cam. We want to make sure we keep our strengths strong. The oline will come and who knows the answer might already be on the roster :thumbsu:

[xclr82xtc]

we made it happen last year.. we have improved this year.  im not worried

[Mr. Scot]

Here is how I see it--maybe I am reaching for understanding:

 

Bell, Chandler, Williams, and Bond are the Tackles.  I predict Chandler will be the LT and Bell/Williams will fight for the RT job.

We signed a pass-catching TE AND a blocking TE during the offseason.

We drafted a large WR and signed some bigger, more sure handed complimentary WRs in free agency.

We drafted a bull dozer of a G and re-signed a G in free agency.  (Silatolu, Turner, Kugbila,Scott will fight for 2 G spots)

We drafted a RB who can pick up blitzes and pass block

 

These signs point to a ground attack with a concentration in the passing game on short to intermediate passes.  Large targets, 2 TEs, etc.  Less time for Cam to sit in the pocket and wait for deep digs and gos---Guard becomes more important than T to a degree.  RBs and TEs helping on the edge. 

 

Assuming no one else is picked up that can play the left, I think Bell will wind up as the left tackle with Chandler as his backup and someone else will be picked up to play the right.

 

Silatolu, Kalil and Turner man the middle.

[Kuech the Sneak]

Chandler-Amini-Kalil-Turner-Bond

[top dawg]

Is that a Bell-Bond?

[top dawg]

Jailbreak! LOL  :(

[hdevonxz]

First of all Wharton was only brought in because Silatolu went on IR.  And Wharton did not play well in 2012 nor did Gross have a great year that year.  So the fact they had a great 2013 was terrific for the line but there was no guarantee that either would have a great year in 2014.  With Silatolu back and Kalil at center the left middle should be solid and again we need one guy to come up big and frankly the left side will be fine.  With either Turner or Kugbila at guard and Bell back the right side should actually be improved.  So while the prevailing view is that things are so bad, I think we will be much better than folks like you believe.  

 

As for Cam getting sacked, hit or hurried more that other guys, we were in the middle of the pack with sacks.  As for hit and hurries that is expected when you run the ball as much as he does.  Secondly because he is so mobile he has a tendency to hold the ball too long trying to make a play which increases the number of hits and hurries he receives.  How many times does he actually turn into the defender trying to elude pressure instead of stepping up for example.  I an very glad we have him and he is so elusive but the reality is that running quarterbacks get hit more particularly ones who run the ball as much as he does.

 

I don't really see where you disagreed with the point I made?

 

I said Wharton and Gross  contributed significantly to our success on the line last year, and still even then with those outliers we were not the best line in the world.  That being said I didn't mention me wanting them back, but I sure as hell would take them both back over what we have now...no questions asked.

 

Now with them gone we have clearly taken a step back...which should be concerning to just about everyone who doesn't have blind faith in the team. 

 

Of course all those stop gaps plug and play players might turn out to be awesome, but IMO I don't think the odds are that great for that to happen. I hope it does, because I'm just a big of a die hard fan as anyone, but I'm not going to say they will just because I hope they will.

 

And the statistic I used about sacks, hits, hurries, and pressures, was one taken from ESPN,  I think they averaged all those categories out among NFL teams and we came in first. 

[panthers55]

I don't really see where you disagreed with the point I made?

 

I said Wharton and Gross  contributed significantly to our success on the line last year, and still even then with those outliers we were not the best line in the world.  That being said I didn't mention me wanting them back, but I sure as hell would take them both back over what we have now...no questions asked.

 

Now with them gone we have clearly taken a step back...which should be concerning to just about everyone who doesn't have blind faith in the team. 

 

Of course all those stop gaps plug and play players might turn out to be awesome, but IMO I don't think the odds are that great for that to happen. I hope it does, because I'm just a big of a die hard fan as anyone, but I'm not going to say they will just because I hope they will.

 

And the statistic I used about sacks, hits, hurries, and pressures, was one taken from ESPN,  I think they averaged all those categories out among NFL teams and we came in first. 

I didn't disagree that Gross and Wharton had good year because they did but you assume that if they were back then everything would be better than it is going to be and I am not sure that is true.  Both of them were stop gap measures this year as well and guys whose best days were behind them.  I don't think that this line is necessarily taking a step back.  At guard and center I think we will be better and if Bell is on the right I think he will be better as well.  So again we are replacing one guy.  And if we had drafted someone even in the first round, they would still be a project and not necessarily guaranteed to start.

 

As for the sacks hurries and pressures, again a number is just that, meaningless unless it is context.  I contend that Cam gets hit more because he choses to run often when he should throw, runs on a number of defined plays because he is the biggest back we have, holds the ball when he should dump it off or throw it away and creates some of his own issues because he also has the ability to make some unreal plays and escape when it appears he is about to get pummelled. I don't beleive it is the lines fault that they often don't hold up for 3 or 4 seconds on every play.  Guys like Brees and Manning throw it away at the first sign of pressure so obviously their line looks much better.

 

I am not saying they are fine or don't have issues, simply that they are blamed for everything and I don't think it is all the line's fault.